Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Spermatogenesis is the process of formation of mature sperm following a series of cell division and differentiation steps. Different cell types appear in the seminiferous epithelium at specific time points. These cytological changes must be accompanied by changes in protein expression patterns. The aim of the present study was the comparative analysis of proteomic profiles of the soluble proteins expressed at three important stages of germ cell development: The 8 days old mouse testis (consisting of spermatogonial stem cells and undifferentiated germ cells at the verge of onset of meiosis); the 16 days old mouse testis (consisting of undifferentiated and differentiated germ cells) and 24 days old mouse testis (having full repertoire of germ cell lineage including spermatozoa produced at the completion of first wave of spermatogenesis). The proteins isolated at the above mentioned time points were subjected to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis for protein identification and generation of proteome profile. The proteome data was subjected to bioinformatic analysis which includes: STRING analysis for functional protein association network determination; Panther analysis and DAVID analysis for determination of protein classes, signaling pathways, Biological functions etc., which exhibited changes with the progression of first wave of spermatogenesis. For validation of the proteome data, the expression levels of some of the proteins were analyzed by immunoblotting. Spermatogonial stem cell marker integrin beta-1 was found to be up-regulated in day 8. Ubiquitin was down-regulated in day 16 as compared to day 8 and day 24. The expression patterns of both proteins were confirmed by immunoblotting.

Biography

Email: nomesh@rgcb.res.in